Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-02-23
DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES.
How They Are Being Violated mt Charles
ton-Anothcr Protest.

How They Are Being Niolateu NJ ChlrieN-
tOn-Anothcr Protest.
To Hr Editor Gj ne Register.
MONONGALIA COUNTY, W. Va, Feb
ruary 2l.-FOr quarter Of a century 1t
was the mission of some OF us
Through summers heat and winters cold,
To watch the flock and tend the fold,
And q portion of that time IL was worth 4
mans life to say he was a Conservative or
Democrat. But still against such fearful
odds we did our duty IN good faith with
our eve steadily fixed on the promised
land. We had priaeipLes-nOt meh-in-
scribed As our motto, and such was the rule
of our faith. This was our Democracy.
The good old kind of of JeilerSOnian SIM
plicity when the office sought the man. 1t
seems hard now after many years OF weary
toll and waiting to meet such bitter diSap-
pointment Just Is we thought We were en-
tering the fruitiOn of our long cherished
hopes. But republics are said to he I'M
grateful. We see the old veterans
crowded TO the rear-retITed without a pen
sion-and some OF the improved bloodS
even though they dallied in the enemies
camp in the days that tried mems souls
seeking To guide the ship of state. 1t
is not very surprising To see "A wreck.
There il only one good we realize. Ii
gives us a chance To grumble-a privilege
on which Americans have an exclusive
patent, and which they usually use pretty
freely. 1t is all we'll and right to call in
the young and ambitious to give some
life and vitality To the work, but it is
also we'll To have some knowledge and eX-
- -. ,-, .nv~ lnA-a ~nt,r ru.y~ a-A
be taken into the enemy's camp. We
want to say to the class referred to-gO
slow-yOu will need us all before you
onque the enemy. Now the ground Of
our Legislature and the Senatorial strug-
gle has been gone over so often, that there
is little more TO be said. 1t does seem
like the uSageS OF a party ought
to be q kind OF unwTitted law.
| feel quite sure that if any man would
boldly say he would not obey the will OF
his party-be its master, not its servant
that party would never make him even q
high pirate, much less n captain. 1t is
useless 10 expect TO influence these boilers
ut this time, but We may use ideas to
guard against such a calamity in the fu-
ture. 1t mas been agreed that counties Civ
ing large party majorities should control
party organizations. Ii 80, where is the
right of minorities which we have been
taught sedulOuSly to guard 1t is easy to
belong to a party OF a majority but in gen
eral elections every vote counts, and they
who maintain their organization in the
face of overwhelming majorities do so from
principle and should not be deSpiSed.
= - ..-. - $500. -
and free passes We don't like to
believe the democracy is guilty.
We elected a Legislature for a purpose, hut
they have diSregtrded our wish. We may
rs well bury u dead and get ready for
the next campaign. but let us set u mark
on Cain; also, on the aRSeeH hand that
would tax our butchers so that Ouly moa-
OpOlistS and m~illiOnaireS could eat meat.
Ii all the bills offered ut Charleston pass,
we will start almost as a new people. New
school law, new road law, new everything,
and the next term will most likely see q
new Legislature.
OF our National Legislature we would
remark, in passing, that the campaign
promises OF reform aud tax reduction have
not been realized. Are all men liars? You
may seek some pretext TO Squander the
millions wrung from a tax-5urdened co.,
stit2ency. You may provide for some fat
contracts. You may make Buncombe
speeches and twist the hons lail by reSo-
lutions for the benefit of the ''land of the
festive refugee"-yOu may fawn on labor
and frOwn on capital, but please don't say
my people, for if you fail to do the work
for which we delegated you, you arg not
worthy even to be called our servant =ga
We confess to disappointment, and hope
the press viii sound the alarm, as it has
been doing. There is evidently some fail
ure somewhere, and the people are getting
discouraged. The remark is common: ~
have no longer any faith in politics or
promises" A LooKER On, TOO.